First Harvest

Less than six months after Boeing and South African Airways (SAA) announced their plans to turn “energy tobacco” into sustainable aviation biofuel, farmers in South Africa’s Limpopo province are harvesting their first crop of a nicotine-free, energy-rich tobacco plant.

Ground-based Midcourse Defense

Proven, Ready and Able

The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system is designed to detect, intercept and destroy long-range ballistic missiles during their midcourse phase of flight. It provides early detection and tracking during the boost phase, as well as midcourse target discrimination, precision intercept and destruction of the target through the force of collision. The system uses a three-stage ground-based interceptor equipped with an exoatmospheric kill vehicle, and multiple sensors, communications systems and fire control capabilities.

Ground-based Midcourse Defense Customer

Boeing has helped the United States Missile Defense Agency guard against all missile threats through its Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which became operational in 2004. Boeing has been the lead for the capability since 1998.

Ground-based Midcourse Defense Quick Facts

Interceptors are emplaced at two sites in the United States, one in Vandenberg, Calif., and the other in Fort Greely, Alaska.